Ning Zhu was beaming with joy.
However, an overwhelming wave of fatigue surged through his limbs, making him sway as if drunk, on the verge of collapsing at any moment.
"Synthesize for me!"
Ning Zhu, propping up his will, arrived at the Skeletal Divine Court.
At this point, there were a total of twelve Skeleton Soldiers.
He selected his troops, leaving the Infant Skeleton and the original Little Old Man Skeleton, sending all the others into the synthesis array, which instantly activated.
"Rumble—"
The ground shook violently, trembling erratically.
Ten Skeleton Soldiers were kneaded into the void, unsure if they were sacrificed as offerings or went to a more special place as undead matter.
In any case, a circular array with a diameter of over two meters replaced their position.
A Snow White Skeleton Soldier leaped out, and as it rotated its skull, its tender green soul fire seemed to show alertness.
"Huh? Is it observing its surroundings? Could it possess sentience?"
The illusory Ning Zhu, in his human form, widened his eyes.
Looking closely, the color of this guy's soul fire was slightly deeper than that of a normal Skeleton Soldier.
The color of its bones showed a clear difference; although there were still unavoidable impurities, the overall appearance was as pure white as snow, giving it a distinct sensory impression.
"Abba?"
The Snow White Skeleton took a step.
After waiting quietly and finding no new danger, it took a second step.
It was extremely cautious, observing its surroundings with every movement, as if any slight disturbance would pose a threat to its back.
However, the temple was almost completely still.
Here, one couldn't even feel the passage of time; hollow nothingness enveloped everything, above and below, everything was unreal, yet everything truly existed.
"Magical creature analysis."
Ning Zhu silently recited, and immediately saw the Snow White Skeleton's attribute panel.
【Race】: Skeleton Soldier
【Evolution Level】: Inferior Species Initial Stage
【Talents】: Loss of Pain/Spiritual Enlightenment/Bone Regeneration
【One-Star Skill】: Suicide Fist (Mastered)
"Is this powerful unit... too exaggerated?"
"Skeleton Soldiers only have 'Loss of Pain' and 'Bone Splice Talent.' Now Bone Splice Talent is gone, and there are two extra talents. Isn't this a clear-cut 'Anomalous Body'?!"
"And what the hell is Suicide Fist? Such a ridiculous name, and its proficiency is 'Mastered.' How did it cultivate it? Why is its evolution level still at the initial stage and hasn't increased?"
Ning Zhu had countless questions he wanted to ask this clean, exceptionally cautious Skeleton Soldier.
But he had a premonition that he couldn't hold on much longer; if he didn't transform back into his human form and get a good night's sleep, his newly refined Magic Coffin would be in big trouble.
"Let the old man and the child accompany you for now; I'll come back tomorrow..."
Ning Zhu retreated into his Magic Coffin, transforming back into his human body.
In the world of Magi, transformations do not require clothes to burst.
The clothes worn by the human body, as well as a certain weight of protective gear and personal items, would also be stored within the Magic Coffin during transformation, fully preserved.
Therefore, with a single thought from Ning Zhu, the two bodies instantly swapped.
He put on his battle-worn bathrobe again, ignored the mess on the floor, and collapsed into sleep.
"Snore..."
Young people sleep so well.
Ning Zhu had an incredibly bizarre dream, in which he sat on a Skeletal Throne thousands of feet high.
Looking out, the vast land was filled with various undead creatures; skeletons formed neat armies, ghosts frolicked everywhere, and zombies clustered around mountain-sized beast carcasses, feasting on blood and flesh.
There were also bone dragons with wingspans of several hundred meters, circling the sky;
Skeletal Giants holding bone clubs, baring their fangs and radiating malevolence;
Mummies wrapped in white bandages, wandering aimlessly across mountains and fields;
Death Knights riding Nightmare warhorses, holding dark spears, brimming with fighting spirit;
And handsome Vampire Princes and stunning Vampire Princesses, raising cups filled with fresh blood towards the throne...
...
Ning Zhu was utterly captivated.
When the first ray of dawn dispelled the cold night and illuminated Mangcao City once more.
The young man slowly awoke, his blurry eyes gradually clearing, those two gray pupils still deep, and his joy still present.
"A new life, setting sail!"
"Today is the hundredth day of sealing the corpse, and also the last day of the Mirage Tower report, I have to leave early..."
Becoming a Magus was merely an entry ticket into the extraordinary realm.
Especially at the Inferior Species Initial Stage, one couldn't do anything and had to attend school.
The Mirage Tower was the highest-level academy in Mangcao City; its excellent competitive atmosphere and vast knowledge supply could help a fledgling evolve into a mighty eagle.
Ning Zhu glanced at the clock on the wall.
The hour hand pointed to seven, definitely enough time.
"Oh, right, the powerful unit summoned by sacrificing ten Skeleton Soldiers..."
Ning Zhu arrived in the shattered temple, his gaze sweeping around, and he was greatly surprised.
He saw the Infant Skeleton, which was still quite adorable yesterday, now curled up in the cracked wall, desperately trying to make itself invisible, both lowly and pathetic.
On the other side, the Little Old Man Skeleton was gone.
The Snow White Skeleton Soldier, whose right arm was severed at the root, was now stepping on its fragmented remains, holding a broken skull in its hand, slowly sucking the soul fire from within.
...
Ning Zhu looked up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle.
My loyal soldier... just like that, gone!
On that dark and windy night, he was fast asleep.
But in the Skeletal Divine Court, a life-and-death duel had erupted!
The loser was clearly the clumsy Little Old Man Skeleton.
Same level, no skills, only able to take a beating.
But it actually managed to knock off one of the Snow White Skeleton's arms?
This was an Anomalous Body!
A powerful unit summoned by the synthesis array!
The Little Old Man Skeleton was that fierce? Why didn't I notice yesterday?
Ning Zhu's thoughts raced, and he suddenly realized something was wrong.
Suicide Fist—could it be a skill that harms the enemy by a thousand and oneself by eight hundred?
The Snow White Skeleton used its skill to kill the Little Old Man Skeleton, then consumed its soul fire to replenish its own growth medium...
The more Ning Zhu pondered, the more reasonable it seemed.
He then had a whimsical thought: if only there was a playback function, since it was impossible to monitor the temple constantly, he would always miss some interesting or crucial moments.
...
He waited for half a minute.
In the Skeletal Divine Court, nothing happened.
It seemed that while this place was magical, it wasn't omnipotent; it couldn't grant every wish.
The divine abilities that could be displayed at this stage were mainly analysis, teleportation, and synthesis; anything more would be a luxury.
"No, devouring one's own kind is understandable, whether it's undead or other species, it's just a survival instinct."
"But this is my territory, and you are my soldier. Can you please not bully the Baby Skeleton?"
The Infant Skeleton—officially given the nickname "Baby."
Ning Zhu still couldn't bear to part with this unique Skeleton with the 'Bite' ability, racking his brain to figure out how to ensure its undead safety.
"This place is so big, can't it be divided into different areas?"
"Even tigers and elephants have their own territories. If we live together in a chaotic mess, eating one colleague today and a pair tomorrow, how can my Divine Court grow and become strong? How can I lead you to a prosperous future?"
Ning Zhu spoke eloquently, continuously expressing his thoughts.
Suddenly, he heard a loud bang, and a crack over a hundred meters wide appeared around him.
The place where he stood had clearly become an isolated paradise.